Are you thinking of an outdoor play area for kids? Let’s be honest kids get entertained by everything. Therefore, an excellent outdoor play space with simple things can make their day or life, especially in summer. Not to mention, it will encourage kids to go out and have outdoor fun and leave their computers.
Outdoor activities are great for children to use all the energy in hours of fun spent in the backyard instead of inside the house. So, keep on reading for some awesome backyard play area ideas to ensure that the kids have the best playtime.
Why are outdoor games important for kids?
Before getting started, you should know why investing time and money is so essential for an outdoor play area for kids.
First of all, when children play outside, they develop various parts of their brains. It helps to fight fatigue, make them more energized, and also improve their motor skills. Playing outside can prepare them for their futures. Moreover, it can also teach them how to be more caring for the environment.
Then, having a playset outside in your backyard provides them with a very safe space to play. They can exercise, which is very important for their health in the safety of their own house. Not to mention, you don’t have to keep a constant eye on them while they are in their backyard play space as well.
A less talked about outdoor play area for kids ideas is the rest you can get. When your children are busy playing outside, they will be engrossed in it for hours so you can get some much-needed rest. On the contrary, if you want some quality time with kids, some of these play ideas can provide hours of fun for that as well. So it is a win-win situation.
Fun outdoor play ideas
So now, let’s look at some amazing creative play ideas for your child or children. Some of them may require some planning, while others are easy to DIY.
No playground equipment outdoor games
These are games that you have grown up playing. They are very easy to prepare as they don’t require any difficulty to get the equipment or difficult construction. So let’s look at these games.
Sidewalk Chalk
Now, this is a very easy sensory play that will improve their creativity. It doesn’t require a lot of running or activity of children as well. All you need is to purchase some chalks for the children.
Stepping stones
Another classic game that only needs stones. You can use numbers, play it like hopscotch, and add other such twists to make it more fun. It is an easy game that includes some physical activity as well. So, you can teach kids to play this game, but you will need more than one kid to make it fun.
Hula hoops
This is an activity that can be quite addicting. Of course, you can use hula hoops indoors, but using them outside will be much safer. You can easily buy a cheap pair of hula hoops on Amazon or through your local supermarket.
DIY backyard outdoor game ideas
Now, let us look at more complex and more fun outdoor activity ideas. These vary from easy to needing some time to construct, but we grant that the kids love these backyard ideas. All of them can be more fun by involving landscaping and an obstacle course, but we leave these things to your imagination.
Playhouse
This is a classic that kids love. It adds mystery and gives them their own space. You can choose to build a playhouse with your kids or complete it on your own to surprise them.
Along with a playhouse, a treehouse is a great idea as well. These types of places will encourage children to spend more time outside while improving their creativity. Moreover, this will act as a great educator for learning about nature and different animals found.
Some form of an outdoor climbing wall
There are very few kids who don’t love climbing. Most kids will climb anything they find indoors. However, indoors it can be very unsafe. This is why having a climbing wall outside will be a great activity for natural play outside.
Now, you can build your own by using old tires and following a tutorial online or buy a rock climbing structure from somewhere. Nevertheless, this is a great way to teach them how to remain more fit and act as a great sensory play.
A play area
There are many types of play areas that you can build for your kids according to what they like.
Having a nice racetrack or play kitchen with lots of plants will be great for spending time outside while outdoor toys. Another thing you can do is, have a bright teepee and cover it with brightly colored pompoms and flags. This easy DIY will be an easy alternative to a playhouse.
Moreover, a play area can have a large sandbox or sandpit, which will act as a great activity as well for both girls and boys.
Slides
One thing that kids love as much as climbing is sliding down on slides. You can either DIY it or buy one from somewhere. This will require some space and planning but can be very fun.
Have a playhouse and a treehouse mix and match structure. Attach a slide so that to leave the house, the kids have to slide down. You can attach ropes or stairs to help them climb the house. A great multifunctional structure for kids. Or, you can build a mound and use stumps and then add a slide, perfect for when you already have a sloping yard. There are many ways to make use of slides in the backyard.
Patio playspace
This is more suitable for very young kids and can’t be safely out in the backyard on their own. Make sure to have enough space on the patio, and then add some small structures for your kid to spend time on.
The patio should be lined with a thin and narrow railing and then fill it with kid-friendly toys. Small slides and swings with a sitting are for them would be perfect. You won’t fear them running off either with this setting. You can even add a small pool for a bit of water play that your kid can enjoy.
Swings
Another favorite among kids. A swing set is easy to buy and will occupy the kids for a long while. However, there are many DIY alternatives for this as well.
You can make your own wooden swing or tire swing; it will be especially easy when you have a huge tree to hand this off of. With a little more effort, you can even build your own platform swing for more than one kid. Another easy alternative is a hammock. These are easy as all you need is a place to tie the strings, and it’s done.
Incorporating water
This is perfect for summer. Kids love water, so having a play area with water and dirt will be something they will adore.
The easiest way to do this is by having an inflatable pool. To make it more creative, you can make a DIY river or a water wall. A water wall needs obstacles like recycled water bottles, so water runs down the wall. This is a great way to quench children’s curiosity regarding water. A mud kitchen is a great option as well. It uses water, sand, and a place for them to mix the two and create things.
In conclusion, it is very easy to please kids and bring them outside to play. You can provide them with only a chalkboard, and they can still make it fun. So have fun yourself and create an awesome outdoor play area for kids to enjoy and learn new things.